Consolidation and break-up of the South American platform in southeastern Brazil: Tectonothermal and denudation histories

The different tectonic stages that occurred at the end of the Proterozoic and during the Phanerozoic have an important bearing on the tectonothermal history of the South American Platform and its consolidation. Geochronological data (U/Pb monazite, Ar-40/Ar-39 whole rock) and apatite fission-track analysis, from Precambrian rocks of the southeastern Brazilian coastline, permit the modeling of a long-term thermal history of the crust and constrain variable denudation rates.Using these data, a temperature-time diagram reflects a period of accelerated exhumation during the end of the Brasiliano Orogeny, followed by long stability and reactivation of the platform during the Rifting Phase of the South Atlantic Ocean.U/Pb zircon and monazite (blocking temperature of ca. 650degreesC) data from a series of igneous bodies suggest that a tangential and transpressional tectonic regime occurred between 625 and 610 Ma. During the following escape tectonics, between 610 and 590 Ma the exhumation process indicates cooling rates of ca. 12degreesC/Ma. Ar-40/Ar-39 biotite ages between 540 and 510 Ma (ca. 300degreesC) and a corrected fission-track age on apatites (100degreesC) of 480 Ma indicate an exhumation event related to block tectonics with huge vertical displacement along shear zones.A long stabilization phase, with low exhumation, and cooling rate around 0.25degreesC/Ma was recorded from the Cambro/Ordovician to the Mesozoic. At 65 Ma an acceleration of the exhumation through denudation and reworking of the South American surface with cooling rate of 1.5degreesC/Ma is observed.The uplift of the Mantiqueira and Serra do Mar mountain ranges along the southeast Brazilian coastline works as a climatic barrier provoking lateral erosional processes causing long-term scarp retreat, combined with intense, but progressive denudation towards the continent. A denudation of 2.5 to 4 km was calculated for such processes. This lateral retreat of escarpments and flexural response can provide important insights regarding marginal isostatic uplift and the evolution of offshore sedimentary basins of southeast Brazil.

Developing a research agenda for promoting physical activity in Brazil through environmental and policy change

Objective. To identify the highest priorities for research on environmental and policy changes for promoting physical activity (PA) in Brazil; to uncover any gaps between researchers' and practitioners' priorities; and to consider which tools, methods, collaborative strategies, and actions could be useful to moving a research agenda forward.Methods. This was a mixed-methods study (qualitative and quantitative) conducted by Project GUIA (Guide for Useful Interventions for Activity in Brazil and Latin America) in February 2010-January 2011. A total of 240 individuals in the PA field (186 practitioners and 54 researchers) were asked to generate research ideas; 82 participants provided 266 original statements from which 52 topics emerged. Participants rated topics by "importance" and "feasibility;" a separate convenience sample of 21 individuals categorized them. Cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling were used to create concept maps and pattern matches.Results. Five distinct clusters emerged from the concept mapping, of which " effectiveness and innovation in PA interventions" was rated most important by both practitioners and researchers. Pattern matching showed a divergence between the groups, especially regarding feasibility, where there was no consensus.Conclusions. The study results provided the basis for a research agenda to advance the understanding of environmental and policy influences on PA promotion in Brazil and Latin America. These results should stimulate future research and, ultimately, contribute to the evidence-base of successful PA strategies in Latin America.

Taxonomic comments and an identification key to species for the Smooth-hound sharks genus Mustelus Link, 1790 (Chondrichthyes: Triakidae) from the Western South Atlantic.

Five species of smooth-hound sharks genus Mustelus (Family Triakidae) are know in the western South Atlantic, as follows: Mustelus canis (Mitchell 1815); Mustelus fasciatus (Garman 1913); Mustelus higmani Springer & Lowe 1963; Mustelus norrisi Springer 1939; and Mustelus schmitti Springer 1939. In the present paper, new data on the anatomy, morphometrics and meristic characters are given. Taxonomic aspects and comparison between the species are discussed. Most general body morphologic measurements and proportions are useless as a tool for species identification, since many of them show remarkable intraspecific variations. Head proportions and structures related seem to be a more adequate procedure to identify the species of Mustelus. The labial folds proportions, internasal distance and orbit diameter were the most useful character to separate the western South Atlantic species. The buccopharingeal pattern of denticles as well as tooth counts not was useful to distinguish the Mustelus species from western South Atlantic adequately, due great intraspecific variation.

Effects of a small fish cage farm on zooplankton assemblages (Cladocera and Copepoda: Crustacea) in a sub-tropicalreservoir (SE Brazil).

In Brazil, the environmental impacts of fish cage farming in water reservoirs have not been well studied. As this activity is being increasingly practiced, investigations on the impacts of this practice are strongly needed. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of a small cage tilapia farm on zooplankton assemblages in an oligo/mesotrophic reservoir (Jurumirim Reservoir, Paranapanema River). Zooplankton, limnological variables, and water samples were obtained trimonthly during a year at two sample sites, one was located adjacent to the cage farm and the control area was located one kilometer away from it. Eighteen species were identified and Cladocera was the dominant group. The same species of microcrustaceans were identified at both sites. Among the ecological attributes studied, only evenness showed a tendency towards being higher in the control site. Significant differences between studied variables in the sites were observed only for material in suspension. The results of the study indicate that, during the studied period, the cage farm did not generate detectable changes in the zooplankton assemblages and their ecological attributes. However, small differences in some limnological variables could be an indication of some environmental changes associated with the fish farm system.

A bacteriological study of hospital beds before and after disinfection with phenolic disinfectant

In hospitals, one of the ways to control microbial contamination is by disinfecting the furniture used by patients. This study's main objective was to evaluate the microbiological condition of hospital mattresses before and after such disinfection, in order to identify bacteria that are epidemiologically important in nosocomial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RODAC plates with two different culture media were used to collect specimens. Patient beds were selected according to previously established criteria, and surface areas on the mattresses were chosen at random. From the total of 1 040 plate cultures from 52 mattresses, positive results were obtained from 500 of them (48.1%), 263 before disinfection and 237 after disinfection. Considering the selectivity of the culture media, the positivity rate was high. There were high prevalences of S. aureus both before and after mattress disinfection. The study results suggest that the usual disinfection procedures, instead of diminishing the number of microbes, merely displace them from one part of the mattress to another, and the number of microorganisms remains the same.

Sustainable development 20 years on from the earth summit: progress, gaps and strategic guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

The Latin American Pacific Basin initiative and the Asia-Pacific region

Includes bibliography

Millennium development goals: progress towards the right to health in Latin america and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Millennium development goals: advances in environmentally sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Services in regional agreements between Latin American and developed countries

Includes bibliography

Exploring the patterns and determinants of U.S. antidumping actions against Latin American imports, 1980-2004

Includes bibliography

Aquatic macroinvertebrates survey and assessment of two artificial reservoirs into conservation units from the Southeast Region of Brazil

This study aims to inventory and assess the aquatic macroinvertebrates fauna in two artificial reservoirs into conservation units with differences regarding conservation level and to anthropogenic impacts. The samplings were carried out in Caetetus Ecological Station and Bauru City Zoological Park, where some physical and chemical variables also were measured. The results obtained indicated that the Caetetus Ecological Station is more effective in the conservation of the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates compared to Bauru City Zoological Park. These results can be attributed to the strong anthropogenic impact suffered by the reservoir in Bauru and demonstrate the importance of these areas in maintaining the diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrates community.

Resolving international trade and investment disputes

Includes bibliography

Mannanoligosaccharide (mos) and β-glucan (β-glu) in dietary supplementation for Nile tilapia juveniles dept in cages

This experiment was conducted at an aquicolous enterprise with the objective of evaluating the use of MOS and β-GLU as dietary supplements in an experimental lot in order to follow the zootechnical performance, establishing a relationship with the hematological parameters, the morphological alterations of the intestine, and the enzymatic activity (protease, lipase and amylase), and the water quality of 3,000 tilapia juveniles kept in cages (Wt = 24 ± 0.26g). Nine cages (6.0 m3) were used, with three treatments and three replications. 1: commercial feed without supplementation (control); 2: 0.1% per ton of MOS; 3: 0.03% per ton of purified β-GLU. The feed contained 36% of crude protein (CP) incorporated into the premix MOS and purified β-GLU (BIORIGIN®). The tilapia that had received the diet supplemented with β-GLU in a period of 90 days showed a favorable condition of the immune system, increase in the absorption surface of the front part of the intestine and consequently, growth in the activity of the digestive enzymes, denoting higher efficiency in the use of the nutrients in juveniles, providing satisfactory zootechnical performance in comparison with the other diets. This product may be used as a dietary supplement for this species when kept in cages.

Sociabilidade e política: Oliveira Lima, Joaquim Nabuco e o Pan-Americanismo (1899-1907)

Pós-graduação em História - FCHS